Always overlook the simple things - been watching endless YT videos on how to get this shaft out of the hub. Slidehammers, pullers, mallets - after watching this, went and got my rotary hammer, plugged it in, whacked the shaft and out it popped. Fookin brilliant. (if you've got a rotary hammer that is!)
LoL that's why I made the video, anytime I start to get into slide hammers and pullers I know I'm screwed. Good tool to have around regardless, pays for itself in one go IMO. Glad it worked for you!
Spent 2 days heating and hammering and pulling and my axle wouldn’t budge, less than 1 minute dojng this and all of a sudden it just came out, unreal! Thanks 👍🏻👍🏻
This worked superb on a FWD Ford Transit! Beating the crap out of it with a hammer didn't move it the slightest. Hammer drill? Came loose without a sweat. Your a lifesaver, thanks!
After trying with big hammer, lots of heat & penetrating's fluid, gave up and went to RUclips. Dug out my old air hammer. I too was skeptical...... Worked like a champ - thanks so much for sharing! It really worked
Only this worked for me. 10 years old car. 2 weeks of other failed tries.. Used 3 penetrating rust dissolvers, 2 big hammers, damaged axle. Used heat upto 250°C, used and damaged 2 hub pullers.. nothing worked, apart from this. Brilliant idea
Best advice ever. I had a Toyota axle bearing with a seized axle that wouldn't budge. Beat it to death with a sledge, lubricated it, heated it, thought it would be there forever. Bought a cheap impact air hammer ($30 for gun and 3 bits) and it literally came off in seconds.
After watching this video, I realised I had a hammer attachment in my air tool kit. Fired up the compressor😮 and started hammering away. Took a bit of time and fiddling with the pressures, but the shaft eventually let go! I thought I was stuck! Thanks again for sharing the technique.
2 hours of beating the crap out of it, the jackhammer i had worked within 10 minutes, with a little wd40 you are a life saver! I was about to go buy a new nuckle and take the whole thing off
I watched your video and ran straight to harbor freight and even bought the same model bangarang that you have. 10 seconds is all it took. After a can of pb blaster and several trips to the parts store to rent tools....the chisel method is perfect. Thanks a ton!!!
I had a similar issue with a Toyota Minivan. I bought this exact rotary hammer from Harbor Freight and the chisel bit. 30 seconds of running the hammer, the axle started to budge. It took about 10 more seconds and it was free. I tried pullers, hammers, heat and wd40 without success. This totally worked.
Just sharing my experience. 18 y/o car in the salt belt CNY. Need a new axle shaft. Nothing worked. Soaked in penetrating oil, really went to town with the sledge: Nothing. I tried using my rotor puller tool to hook onto the hub and use the forcing screw to push it through. Shocked that this didn't work. Saw this video and the successful comments convinced me to try it. This thing was stuck too well for the impact hammer. I decided to cook the bearing using the acetylene torch. it was only by using the torch and then full swings with the sledge that I got it to move. I thought the impact hammer would work after it started moving but it did not. the forcing screw did though. I'm sure the vibrations of the tool helped some. Good luck all with your projects. For the rusted junk, it seems to always come down to the acetylene torch for me.
Ty for your comment. The tool in this video is only 1.2 joules of impact energy (very low). I think the axle in this video was not very stuck lol. I have one VERY stuck. I'm going to try a rotary hammer that is 3x more powerful than in this video (still low power) and I'm sure it will do nothing... Need about 8 joules or more in my opinion. Mine probably needs about 12 joules, a big boy hammer and probably on a table with full body weight on top of the rotary hammer for a good 2 minutes... Mine is stuffed :(
Thanks for the video and the idea of using this tool. Didn’t have one so I guess it gave me an excuse for another tool and it worked on top of that. About 45 sec-1 min on a Honda pilot axle and it started to move. I was about at my wits end.
Wow glad it worked for you! It's a good reminder to go at it for more time if needed then what I experienced in my case. Crazy how many people this has worked for lol.
IT WORKED! I tried everything pullers heat sludge hammers etc. I was like most thinking about just removing the knuckle and having it pressed out. It was not as quick as what is in the video. It took at least 15 min with the rotary hammer and the pointed bit. I tried various speed settings but settled on the fastest and with some perseverance it came off. THANK YOU! If it failed I was going to try somehow soaking it in water? hey I guess try everything. Guy in a comment below had this idea but did not have to try it but was curious if that would work.
My next step was to cut everything out lol glad it's actually working for most people. I am glad you commented about the time it took. 15 min is a good amount to hammer on it.
I was thinking that it wouldn't work. When it broke loose I thought man that looks like some good camera tricks. I suppose the high frequency is what did it like someone else in the comments said. Lol, great video don't forget that heat might mess up the seals in the bearings and bake the grease.
Super thanks for this video. My stuck CV axle ('05 Focus) had resisted about 20 seconds of air hammering and several hand hammers. I watched this video and was sure with this tool that axle would budge. But getting this tool or one like it was going to take some time. Somehow knowing this problem would get solved gave me an idea. Soak with PB Blaster 20 minutes. (WD40 did not work). I tried with the air hammer (cheap) one more time and it moved! The axle is out now and thank you once again.
I was having the same problem with the cv axle not being able to extract it with out cutting it for 3 hours did everything then I watch ur video and went to Home Depot rent a hammer I and tried again and it took me quite literally 15 seconds holly molly ! They charge me 10$ for renting the tool now I’m considering getting one hammer
Dude. I tried the Harbor Freight 1-inch Bauer tool (1.2 ft lbs) with no luck. Then I rented a 2-inch Makita (14.8 ft lbs) from Home Depot and voila! Done in 15 seconds. However, I buggered up the CV shaft threads on my 2003 Jetta, so I used a file and cut new threads (M20x1.5) so I could reuse the same CV axle. Thanks for the tip!!!
This is a good idea because of its high frequency and the weight of the moving parts in the tool and the punch is closer to the weight of the outer cup and spline of the driveshaft allowing maximum acceleration of the shaft. A sledgehammer will not work because it moves slowly meaning the wheel hub and rubber bushings absorb the force (or if you are unlucky your diff/gearbox absorbs the force...). However, if the hub has been driven to the point where the bearing has heated up and the splines have fused to the shaft then this is not going to work. I remember a friend taking one to a shop with a 100ton press. it got to 50 tonnes before going bang.
heat it and hammer it from behind. Spray with PB Blaster. Come back in 1 hour. Heat up again really good and spray CRC Freeze Off to "shock it". Can also use cold water I guess. It worked for me and I didn't have to buy a new tool. The puller I rented from Autozone did not work
Seems it works for majority of people with comments below saying no dice. Fortunately I already have one of these rotary drills I bought during the last sale. Imma give it a shot tomorrow and hoping it’s able to pop out the rear axles in my bmw or I’m hosed. Hammering and pb did nothing
I am working on a 2006 Honda CRV. Replacing the balljoints/control arms. Passenger side axle/hub came right out after 1 whack w hammer. Driver side is SEIZED. Pounded w hammer to the point of slight mushrooming on metal...tried heat, liquid wrench, prying, etc... will not budge. I have a rotary drill, going to try this today. Thanks for the video.
Wow! I'm also been hammering the head of a drive axle all day with a heavy hammer and I'm just tired of it. It's stuck like nothing before in there. If it worked with that rotary hammer, I'll try one also. Hopefully I can finally get that thing out of there.
Just an idea. You mentioned changing the control arm also. Would buying a new control arm and only swapping out the joints be good if the control arm threads are too rusty? Then adding a weld to the ball joint in case the press fit is too loose.
Thank you for the idea. This helped me tremendously! and saved me a lot of stress. The CV Axel was seized in the wheel bearing on my girlfriends Dodge Grand caravan. and I spent three days with torches pullers sledge hammers etc.. And nothing would work! I took the rotary hammer and got behind the wheel bearing hub assembly. And hammered it from the back side with a punch bit and got it to come out half way. That stopped working so I stuck a tuning fork between the wheel bearing and strut tower and pounded it in there tight. Then I put the puller on and tightened it up and got on the back side of the wheel bearing assembly again with the Hilti rotary hammer and off it came. The absolute worst thing that I have had to do working on my own vehicles. Hope my comment will help someone else and save some stress and aggravation.
2012 town and country. Tried my rotary hammer with pointed bit and nothing. Toasted the axle nut beating the hell out of it with the sledge, lubed it up real good and nothing still. This thing is fused for sure. It just sucks when you think your going to get in and out but then realize you have the worst case scenario situation and it ends up costing more money and time. Im pretty sure my shaft threads are gone too. I tried to be careful but it just wouldn't happen.
Great job! I'm going to replace mine in a subaru tomorrow am. Thankfully it's not so rusted like yours is. I'll hopefully let ya know how it goes. Following afternoon: I spent 4 hours alternating between beating with a 5 lb. hammer, soaking in PB blaster, heat and using a 5 ton gear puller. No dice. Next I'll try a rotary hammer, then taking it to the shop if necessary.
@@eriestreetgarage I hope all is well there! I rented a rotary hammer this am, and my son and I were able to hammer the axle back out of the rotor! WHEW! That thing required a bit of force, but it came out. New one went in without any problem. It's amazing how easy life can be with the right tools. Cheers, Mark.
2011 Ford Fusion Sport: I tried everything from sledge, 3 different torches (Hand torch, turbo torch, oxy accet.), pickle fork, three arm gear puller and no dice. The two lower control arm bushings were also impossible. Bought a new knuckle assembly and axle.
I finally got it. I used my air hammer and then electric Milwaukee impact then back off nut and air hammer again over and over and it finally moved so little I wasn’t sure it moved at all but pulling it in and hammering back out finally got it out
So did you apply any liquid wrench or PB blaster.... Was heat involved? I have tried this and the axle did not move. I live in the south, so by no means is my knuckle any where as corroded and rusted as this car. I must be missing something. How long did you use the rotary hammer on the axle before it moved.
I tried basically everything before that besides pullers and presses. There have been a few that have commented that it took them 15 minutes of hammering before it popped out so it seems to be shear luck if it comes out as quickly as mine did.
@@eriestreetgarage thanks........I appreciate the additional info. I am worried about using too much eat because the seals on the inner shaft. Not looking for more work :(
I find before removing the ball joints I use an air impact hammer with a pointed chisel usually will drive the drive shaft out. Another way is to use a three jaw puller on the hub with the puller shaft on the axal and after it's loaded tight against it take a heavy hammer & give the center bolt a few hard shots will also pop it out
Looking at it I don't think you tried the removing the studs and then putting bolts with a nut on back side, facing in the way and using the knuckle as the point to wind it off. If the knuckle is not giving a good solid facing then you just need to arrange some sort of hard point - a piece of old flat scrap metal cut to fit, whatever. It does work... most of the time...
When people drive with metal on metal brakes or bad hub bearing the excessive heat with in a way weld them together,those are the hard ones if your rotors are black ,it's gonna be hard....
Those generally have to be pressed in so its worth a shot if you have the tool. Otherwise might be worth just renting something to give it a go. Someone commented that they were getting snap rings and what not out with it afterward.
@@eriestreetgarage It's a hub bearing assembly. No pressing bearings in. The bearings are already in the new hub. I know they get corroded because it's steel on aluminum.
I'm doing this tomorrow on a 2015 Mustang. Replacing the rear wheel bearings. I'm stuck on the driver side. Nothing is working. Sledgehammer hammer, specialty tools, nothing.
@@eriestreetgarage I took it to a mechanic that I know not to joke around but the dude is around 70 years old. With full confidence he said I will take it out in a hour. In my head I was like year right a hydraulic press couldn't take it out what else. So a hour passes by I come back the axle is out and the dude was just sitting down. My man got it out with a sledge hammer. I was so surprised I went to Home Depot and bought me a sledge.
@@maxmil2809 LOL i think if you have that pointy bit and a good sledge it may work. I will admit I also don't have a super heavy sledge, would be worried about beating on it like a carnival game lol.
I would be soaking it for a day or two with penetrative oil or even something like diesel, maybe a little heat, and then try again. Some users reported trying it for 15 minutes before it freed itself. Personally, I was getting ready to cut everything out if it hadn't worked for me.
One commenter said he hammered it for about 15 minutes before his budged so perhaps give it another go for a bit. Sucks though, I was going to cut everything out if the hammer hadn't worked for me I feel your pain.
Does that bit come included with the hammer? If not what the specific size of the bit? I’m doing this in a cpl of days my cars been up on jack stands for weeks because I can’t get the axle to move for the life of me!
Hey sorry, the bit does not come with the hammer itself, but is located in the same area if you are going to harbor freight. Perhaps I'll put up a link to the parts.
You could potentially try to rent one from a tool rental place, and there are a few on Amazon that are a bit cheaper. Check craigslist and FB marketplace as well in case there are some tools on there.
I think it's one of the best options but never foolproof unfortunately. Some have reported hammering on it for 15 minutes before it budged. If it doesn't work the options become limited.
Is this an ad? That drill is only rated to pump 1.2 joules of hammering energy. I feel like I need at least 10 joules. But maybe this method is a lot easier than I realise?
@AaronsTalks you can see the latest comment, someone did 3 sessions of 2 minute intervals and it finally worked. That's a long time to have a hammer on it in one go.
@@CC-sf8jn The two times I've had to use it it only took about 5 seconds or so. You could potentially just buy the pointy bit and try to hammer it loose with a hammer.
Update, So I really wanted this to work. Unfortunately after 25 Minutes of using the rotary with full body weight behind me the only thing I accomplished was heating up the Bauer Rotary Hammer to the point I was concerned with failure. I live in NC and the parts have almost no rust. but this is just not moving on a ford focus 2009 front wheel. Looks like I am finally making a deposit into the junk yard for other robber barrons to steel parts from her. Has 200k but everything outside of the Wheel hubs are in good working order.....Win some lose some....
I'm glad that work for you,but I have to say I seen no evidence of sledge hammer strikes anywhere I guess I will have to try it to believe it ,I've used my top of line large snap on air hammer with not even a smidge of motion I removed knuckle with shaft in and cut it off from back and heated it from back and came out with hammer,but will try your method in the future
I never hit the spindle with the sledge always with the axle nut still threaded on. Otherwise you're likely to mash the spindle ends pretty good. Cutting everything out was my next step. Lol
Do I need to take out the ball joints and tie rod end before pushing the cv axle in with the hammer ? I’ve been trying it with those still attached , is that what can be keeping it stuck ?
I bought a cheaper hammer drill. It doesn't have a very big hammer. IT vibrates softly. Looks like yours isn't turning so it probably has a hammer setting. Sadly mine didn't work.
@richrice1058 yes there were multiple settings. If you have bits that come out of the unit make sure it's seated in there all the way. A few times I used it mine also felt soft but it was because the bit was not in all the way or seated properly.
I will try this next time I need to. But I am a skeptic, I did not see any hammer marks on that axle. I would have needed to see the other attempts to believe.
I never hammer directly on the axle end itself in fear of damaging the threads but rather beat on the axle nut. I think if you were to just buy the pointy bit and go at it with a sledge you might have more success. The other side popped out with a light push lol.
I once tried air hammers, 5lb sledge hammers, and a 5 ton puller and still couldnt get it out. I ended up just taking the steering knuckle off the car with the bearing and cv joint attached.
Brutal man. Some people were hammering for 15 mins before theirs broke free which seems extreme to me, but yea. Been considering the wreckers as well lol.
Why can't people just clean the splines and smother them with copper grease or similar would make life so much easier, I've found a small suede brush to be perfect for this
I reckon they may have been the original axles installed by the factory that just rusted over time. I am in the rust belt it's inevitable lol. The car is 23 years old now. :)
That was my fear, brother. Id say give it a go a few more times before giving up. Lub it up, heat, and try again. My next step was cutting the whole thing out a real damn shame.
I came here because my air hammer didn’t work 😳 i don’t know what to do now except remove hub and axle together and use the press at work. Thanks anyway
I went out and bought one of these Harbor Freight tools and it did NOTHING! A baby woodpecker would have been more effective. If you've got a Chrysler minivan with a stuck hub, try something else.
Always overlook the simple things - been watching endless YT videos on how to get this shaft out of the hub. Slidehammers, pullers, mallets - after watching this, went and got my rotary hammer, plugged it in, whacked the shaft and out it popped. Fookin brilliant. (if you've got a rotary hammer that is!)
LoL that's why I made the video, anytime I start to get into slide hammers and pullers I know I'm screwed. Good tool to have around regardless, pays for itself in one go IMO. Glad it worked for you!
Spent 2 days heating and hammering and pulling and my axle wouldn’t budge, less than 1 minute dojng this and all of a sudden it just came out, unreal! Thanks 👍🏻👍🏻
This worked superb on a FWD Ford Transit! Beating the crap out of it with a hammer didn't move it the slightest. Hammer drill? Came loose without a sweat.
Your a lifesaver, thanks!
After trying with big hammer, lots of heat & penetrating's fluid, gave up and went to RUclips. Dug out my old air hammer. I too was skeptical...... Worked like a champ - thanks so much for sharing! It really worked
Glad it worked for you!
Only this worked for me. 10 years old car. 2 weeks of other failed tries.. Used 3 penetrating rust dissolvers, 2 big hammers, damaged axle. Used heat upto 250°C, used and damaged 2 hub pullers.. nothing worked, apart from this. Brilliant idea
LoL what a shit show thats how every repair of mine goes. Glad it worked!
Best advice ever. I had a Toyota axle bearing with a seized axle that wouldn't budge. Beat it to death with a sledge, lubricated it, heated it, thought it would be there forever. Bought a cheap impact air hammer ($30 for gun and 3 bits) and it literally came off in seconds.
Nice another one that worked! It's always my first option now.
After watching this video, I realised I had a hammer attachment in my air tool kit. Fired up the compressor😮 and started hammering away. Took a bit of time and fiddling with the pressures, but the shaft eventually let go! I thought I was stuck! Thanks again for sharing the technique.
Excellent! Another victory!
2 hours of beating the crap out of it, the jackhammer i had worked within 10 minutes, with a little wd40 you are a life saver! I was about to go buy a new nuckle and take the whole thing off
Amazing how many people this has worked for!
Worked in seconds after I struggled for hours with a hammer! Great tip
I watched your video and ran straight to harbor freight and even bought the same model bangarang that you have. 10 seconds is all it took. After a can of pb blaster and several trips to the parts store to rent tools....the chisel method is perfect. Thanks a ton!!!
The bangarang strikes again! Very nice and glad it worked out for you.
I had a similar issue with a Toyota Minivan. I bought this exact rotary hammer from Harbor Freight and the chisel bit. 30 seconds of running the hammer, the axle started to budge. It took about 10 more seconds and it was free. I tried pullers, hammers, heat and wd40 without success. This totally worked.
Glad it worked for you!
Just sharing my experience. 18 y/o car in the salt belt CNY. Need a new axle shaft. Nothing worked. Soaked in penetrating oil, really went to town with the sledge: Nothing. I tried using my rotor puller tool to hook onto the hub and use the forcing screw to push it through. Shocked that this didn't work. Saw this video and the successful comments convinced me to try it. This thing was stuck too well for the impact hammer. I decided to cook the bearing using the acetylene torch. it was only by using the torch and then full swings with the sledge that I got it to move. I thought the impact hammer would work after it started moving but it did not. the forcing screw did though. I'm sure the vibrations of the tool helped some. Good luck all with your projects. For the rusted junk, it seems to always come down to the acetylene torch for me.
Ty for your comment. The tool in this video is only 1.2 joules of impact energy (very low). I think the axle in this video was not very stuck lol. I have one VERY stuck. I'm going to try a rotary hammer that is 3x more powerful than in this video (still low power) and I'm sure it will do nothing... Need about 8 joules or more in my opinion. Mine probably needs about 12 joules, a big boy hammer and probably on a table with full body weight on top of the rotary hammer for a good 2 minutes... Mine is stuffed :(
You’re the man. Nothing else worked but this, my experience was literally identical to this. THANK YOU!
Glad it worked!! :)
Thanks for the video and the idea of using this tool. Didn’t have one so I guess it gave me an excuse for another tool and it worked on top of that. About 45 sec-1 min on a Honda pilot axle and it started to move. I was about at my wits end.
Wow glad it worked for you! It's a good reminder to go at it for more time if needed then what I experienced in my case. Crazy how many people this has worked for lol.
IT WORKED! I tried everything pullers heat sludge hammers etc. I was like most thinking about just removing the knuckle and having it pressed out. It was not as quick as what is in the video. It took at least 15 min with the rotary hammer and the pointed bit. I tried various speed settings but settled on the fastest and with some perseverance it came off. THANK YOU! If it failed I was going to try somehow soaking it in water? hey I guess try everything. Guy in a comment below had this idea but did not have to try it but was curious if that would work.
My next step was to cut everything out lol glad it's actually working for most people. I am glad you commented about the time it took. 15 min is a good amount to hammer on it.
Also used it on the bearing retaining clip. Tool has proved itself useful 👌
I was thinking that it wouldn't work. When it broke loose I thought man that looks like some good camera tricks. I suppose the high frequency is what did it like someone else in the comments said. Lol, great video don't forget that heat might mess up the seals in the bearings and bake the grease.
Super thanks for this video. My stuck CV axle ('05 Focus) had resisted about 20 seconds of air hammering and several hand hammers. I watched this video and was sure with this tool that axle would budge. But getting this tool or one like it was going to take some time. Somehow knowing this problem would get solved gave me an idea. Soak with PB Blaster 20 minutes. (WD40 did not work). I tried with the air hammer (cheap) one more time and it moved! The axle is out now and thank you once again.
Very nice! A few others have said it took 15 minutes of hammering it. Glad you got it out. 👍
You just saved my life. I ran to the Northern Tools and I bought one and it came strait off. Thank you Sir
Very nice! Glad it ended up working for you!
I was having the same problem with the cv axle not being able to extract it with out cutting it for 3 hours did everything then I watch ur video and went to Home Depot rent a hammer I and tried again and it took me quite literally 15 seconds holly molly ! They charge me 10$ for renting the tool now I’m considering getting one hammer
Rock on, I'm glad it's worked for you!
Dude. I tried the Harbor Freight 1-inch Bauer tool (1.2 ft lbs) with no luck. Then I rented a 2-inch Makita (14.8 ft lbs) from Home Depot and voila! Done in 15 seconds. However, I buggered up the CV shaft threads on my 2003 Jetta, so I used a file and cut new threads (M20x1.5) so I could reuse the same CV axle. Thanks for the tip!!!
@donshade glad you guys got it going!
That worked! Omg thank you for this video. I was getting really frustrated but I didn't think to try my air hammer.
Glad it worked for you as well!
This is a good idea because of its high frequency and the weight of the moving parts in the tool and the punch is closer to the weight of the outer cup and spline of the driveshaft allowing maximum acceleration of the shaft.
A sledgehammer will not work because it moves slowly meaning the wheel hub and rubber bushings absorb the force (or if you are unlucky your diff/gearbox absorbs the force...).
However, if the hub has been driven to the point where the bearing has heated up and the splines have fused to the shaft then this is not going to work. I remember a friend taking one to a shop with a 100ton press. it got to 50 tonnes before going bang.
I watched a lot of videos like that where they ended up in presses. Crazy how certain forces work.
Your mother
That was amazing! Thank you so much for sharing that. I hadn’t thought about a hammer drill, but it makes perfect sense.
I'm going to try this next. I've already tried gallons of PB Blaster a sledgehammer a puller and heat. I hope it's this easy for me.
heat it and hammer it from behind. Spray with PB Blaster. Come back in 1 hour. Heat up again really good and spray CRC Freeze Off to "shock it". Can also use cold water I guess. It worked for me and I didn't have to buy a new tool. The puller I rented from Autozone did not work
Tried big hammer, axle puller, PB blaster. The hammer drill is the way to go. Three 2 minute cycles did it. Worth buying one.
@alorr4628 very interesting about the 2 minute cycles, that's longer than most. Thanks for commenting!
Did u replace cv or was it fine and put it back?
@@highlifegoodlife5400 cv was fine. Just replaced the bearing. Used anti-seize on the spindle before putting it back together. Smooth and quiet now.
@@alorr4628 I'm just hoping cv didn't weld self to hub
thank you. 25 mins of struggling with a pry bar, took all of 15 seconds to hammer it out
Yeaaaa buddy glad it worked!
Great tip, I have a couple of roto hammers and a muffler gun, so I'm ready for AXLE WARS!
Excellent tip, should have watched this video before wasting 3 days removing my Axel, I have a hammer drill that I could have used
Every job I do on these old ass cars turns into a 3 day event lol.
Seems it works for majority of people with comments below saying no dice.
Fortunately I already have one of these rotary drills I bought during the last sale.
Imma give it a shot tomorrow and hoping it’s able to pop out the rear axles in my bmw or I’m hosed. Hammering and pb did nothing
THANK YOU THANK YOU. I broke two pullers used a sledge and tons of pb blaster and this worked perfect THANK YOU
Glad it worked out! It's an excellent tool to have as well lots of other bits we can try with it if the need ever arises.
I hope it works for me tomorrow. I over beat it and bent the threads. Now I have to Dremel the groove back in. Still didn't move
I am working on a 2006 Honda CRV. Replacing the balljoints/control arms. Passenger side axle/hub came right out after 1 whack w hammer. Driver side is SEIZED. Pounded w hammer to the point of slight mushrooming on metal...tried heat, liquid wrench, prying, etc... will not budge. I have a rotary drill, going to try this today.
Thanks for the video.
Did it work?
Wow! I'm also been hammering the head of a drive axle all day with a heavy hammer and I'm just tired of it. It's stuck like nothing before in there. If it worked with that rotary hammer, I'll try one also. Hopefully I can finally get that thing out of there.
I tried just about everything to get my axle out-been a week long journey. After watching this video, my axle was out in 30 seconds!!
Lol crazy isn't it. Glad it worked for you!
@@eriestreetgarage sure is crazy! Thanks for the tip!!
it worked.Fantastic!!!!! I tried everything, nothin worked, til i tried this method. Thank you thank you thank you
Glad it worked!
Just an idea. You mentioned changing the control arm also. Would buying a new control arm and only swapping out the joints be good if the control arm threads are too rusty? Then adding a weld to the ball joint in case the press fit is too loose.
I have an air powered one in the tool box somewhere i think.. hopefully I can get this figured. started a new job last week and i need this car!
Thank you! Been struggeling with this for hours!
Thank you for the idea. This helped me tremendously! and saved me a lot of stress. The CV Axel was seized in the wheel bearing on my girlfriends Dodge Grand caravan. and I spent three days with torches pullers sledge hammers etc.. And nothing would work! I took the rotary hammer and got behind the wheel bearing hub assembly. And hammered it from the back side with a punch bit and got it to come out half way. That stopped working so I stuck a tuning fork between the wheel bearing and strut tower and pounded it in there tight. Then I put the puller on and tightened it up and got on the back side of the wheel bearing assembly again with the Hilti rotary hammer and off it came. The absolute worst thing that I have had to do working on my own vehicles. Hope my comment will help someone else and save some stress and aggravation.
I'm super stoked it has been working for so many people. 🙌 nicely done 3 days is usually what I spend doing the 'simple' things too.
2012 town and country. Tried my rotary hammer with pointed bit and nothing. Toasted the axle nut beating the hell out of it with the sledge, lubed it up real good and nothing still. This thing is fused for sure. It just sucks when you think your going to get in and out but then realize you have the worst case scenario situation and it ends up costing more money and time. Im pretty sure my shaft threads are gone too. I tried to be careful but it just wouldn't happen.
Did u replace cv axel? I got new hub and bearing and gotta press cv axel out its stuck good gonna go get hammer drill.
@highlifegoodlife5400 no the goal for me was to not have to do that, lose trans fluid etc.
Great job! I'm going to replace mine in a subaru tomorrow am. Thankfully it's not so rusted like yours is. I'll hopefully let ya know how it goes.
Following afternoon: I spent 4 hours alternating between beating with a 5 lb. hammer, soaking in PB blaster, heat and using a 5 ton gear puller. No dice. Next I'll try a rotary hammer, then taking it to the shop if necessary.
I actually just took everything back apart again this morning, had to use the hammer yet again. I need a lift lol hope it goes well.
@@eriestreetgarage I hope all is well there!
I rented a rotary hammer this am, and my son and I were able to hammer the axle back out of the rotor! WHEW! That thing required a bit of force, but it came out. New one went in without any problem. It's amazing how easy life can be with the right tools.
Cheers, Mark.
an air chisel kit is cheap and does the same thing if you have a compressor already
@@bobsbarnworkshop I thought about getting one of those, but I wasnt sure if my pancake air compressor would be able to keep up with the demand.
@@MrJonrocker yeah, not sure but for the first few seconds the pressure would be high. We all just use what we have on hand or rig up!
2011 Ford Fusion Sport: I tried everything from sledge, 3 different torches (Hand torch, turbo torch, oxy accet.), pickle fork, three arm gear puller and no dice. The two lower control arm bushings were also impossible. Bought a new knuckle assembly and axle.
Did you try the air/rotary hammer? Im a poor person so unfortunately I can't always buy everything new. lol
@@eriestreetgarage Yes the biggest baddest I could find, the same one South Main Auto calls big nasty. AND I'm not Rchi-RicH
@@rich1953 Dang big nasty couldnt even break it? Extreme!
Does a hammer drill work the same?
Worked ! After 6 hours of blow torch, big lump hammer and using a puller which I snapped from turning too hard
Lol awesome 👌 another victory. 👏 it is crazy how efficient it is when it works.
I finally got it. I used my air hammer and then electric Milwaukee impact then back off nut and air hammer again over and over and it finally moved so little I wasn’t sure it moved at all but pulling it in and hammering back out finally got it out
Right on, nice! Looks like itll take a bit sometimes.
It’s pretty wild considering I’m working on a ford with the same problem lol exact same parts and all. Thanks, I’ll give it a try.
So did you apply any liquid wrench or PB blaster.... Was heat involved? I have tried this and the axle did not move. I live in the south, so by no means is my knuckle any where as corroded and rusted as this car. I must be missing something. How long did you use the rotary hammer on the axle before it moved.
I tried basically everything before that besides pullers and presses. There have been a few that have commented that it took them 15 minutes of hammering before it popped out so it seems to be shear luck if it comes out as quickly as mine did.
@@eriestreetgarage thanks........I appreciate the additional info. I am worried about using too much eat because the seals on the inner shaft. Not looking for more work :(
@@constitutionalbacker1stame787 Yea I probably shouldn't have used the heat but once you get to day 2 and 3 everything goes out the window lol.
I find before removing the ball joints I use an air impact hammer with a pointed chisel usually will drive the drive shaft out. Another way is to use a three jaw puller on the hub with the puller shaft on the axal and after it's loaded tight against it take a heavy hammer & give the center bolt a few hard shots will also pop it out
Looking at it I don't think you tried the removing the studs and then putting bolts with a nut on back side, facing in the way and using the knuckle as the point to wind it off. If the knuckle is not giving a good solid facing then you just need to arrange some sort of hard point - a piece of old flat scrap metal cut to fit, whatever. It does work... most of the time...
I like it
I hope you put never seize on the splines at re-assembly.
I probably put antiseize on more things than I should at this point lol. midwest will really get ya.
Thanks to share dude. Why the hell do manufacturers don't put some anti seize during assembly??
You make a good point! Cost reductions I'd assume. lol
When people drive with metal on metal brakes or bad hub bearing the excessive heat with in a way weld them together,those are the hard ones if your rotors are black ,it's gonna be hard....
Sadly this didnt work for mine, but thanks for the recommend! Seems like a great idea
Try changing the amount of force you apply it took a few solid minutes of hitting mine for it to come off. At first i was pushing to hard
What if you have a hub/bearing assembly seized inside the knuckle? Think this would work to chisel it off? 05 Grand Caravan with bad bearing.
Those generally have to be pressed in so its worth a shot if you have the tool. Otherwise might be worth just renting something to give it a go. Someone commented that they were getting snap rings and what not out with it afterward.
@@eriestreetgarage It's a hub bearing assembly. No pressing bearings in. The bearings are already in the new hub. I know they get corroded because it's steel on aluminum.
@@BellefontePerson hmmm yea give it a shot if you have it laying around or a rent-a-tool close by.
I'm doing this tomorrow on a 2015 Mustang. Replacing the rear wheel bearings. I'm stuck on the driver side. Nothing is working. Sledgehammer hammer, specialty tools, nothing.
2015 that sounds crazy that it's not budging it can't be rusted to bits quite yet! May the lord be with you.
Did you ever get it? Working on my 2015 right now and it's driving me crazy! Driver side rear
High torque impact and the slide hammer hub attachment with the black rod to push the axle in
What is that tip on the totary hammer you're using to push against axle?
Ha! I've got one of those sitting right behind me! I'm going to try that and see if it works.
Danm one of these will be hella useful I used a 12 ton hydraulic press and the danm frame on the hydraulic press has bent.
I would be nervous as hell operating it like that! Not even sure what it is with these axles some of them just won't budge.
@@eriestreetgarage I took it to a mechanic that I know not to joke around but the dude is around 70 years old. With full confidence he said I will take it out in a hour. In my head I was like year right a hydraulic press couldn't take it out what else. So a hour passes by I come back the axle is out and the dude was just sitting down. My man got it out with a sledge hammer. I was so surprised I went to Home Depot and bought me a sledge.
@@maxmil2809 LOL i think if you have that pointy bit and a good sledge it may work. I will admit I also don't have a super heavy sledge, would be worried about beating on it like a carnival game lol.
Hi mate this didnt work for me it seems like its rust welded in there, do you have any other ideas
I would be soaking it for a day or two with penetrative oil or even something like diesel, maybe a little heat, and then try again. Some users reported trying it for 15 minutes before it freed itself. Personally, I was getting ready to cut everything out if it hadn't worked for me.
Ocean car or Northern salty roads? That's a lot of rust. Great video tip using hammer drill.
Northern, but wishing I could say it was an ocean car lol.
@@eriestreetgarage LoL! I live on the Texas coast and even that is not as bad as Northern Salty roads.
Tried this on the front drive shaft of a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Heat, PB blaster, and the hammer drill.... didn't budge a mm.
One commenter said he hammered it for about 15 minutes before his budged so perhaps give it another go for a bit. Sucks though, I was going to cut everything out if the hammer hadn't worked for me I feel your pain.
Does that bit come included with the hammer? If not what the specific size of the bit? I’m doing this in a cpl of days my cars been up on jack stands for weeks because I can’t get the axle to move for the life of me!
Hey sorry, the bit does not come with the hammer itself, but is located in the same area if you are going to harbor freight. Perhaps I'll put up a link to the parts.
@@eriestreetgarage bumping for link or at the very least a name…
Wow. Just wow. That was so satisfying to watch i het that felt amazing!
Whats a gud cheaper drill that a get the axle out..besides the hundred dollar Bauer
You could potentially try to rent one from a tool rental place, and there are a few on Amazon that are a bit cheaper. Check craigslist and FB marketplace as well in case there are some tools on there.
@@eriestreetgarage thanks. .appreciate it and will do
@@eriestreetgarage doesnt every drill have a hammer option?
@@georgecostanza831 Not normal drills, no.
@@eriestreetgarage yeah i found that out today. it has a drill option but it still didnt work
Will this always work on northern rust belt cars ?
I think it's one of the best options but never foolproof unfortunately. Some have reported hammering on it for 15 minutes before it budged. If it doesn't work the options become limited.
air hammer?
I tried an air hammer on mine and it's still giving me the finger 🖕. it says "nope! I like this hub and this hub is where I'll be staying"
Dang I got the same car, 2004 Hyundai Elantra right? I’ll def put that rotary hammer on my wishlist.
its a 98 contour SVT. The hammer was crucial!
@@eriestreetgarage right on my dude! Great video 👍🏼
I love this video but I'm stuck at the hub it won't move at all to get the the cv Axl 😅
Shouldve kept the control arm joint in while smashing it with hammer, so the force won't go away
The ball joint was still connected when trying to bust the axle loose. The tie-rod end wasn't hooked up though which makes it a little wonky.
Is this an ad? That drill is only rated to pump 1.2 joules of hammering energy. I feel like I need at least 10 joules. But maybe this method is a lot easier than I realise?
@@AaronsTalks 10 joules seems like a very large hammer!
@@eriestreetgarage I just tried for about 15 minutes with a 3.6 houles hammer and nothing happened :(
@AaronsTalks you can see the latest comment, someone did 3 sessions of 2 minute intervals and it finally worked. That's a long time to have a hammer on it in one go.
Thanks. Was going to try a puller but ill try this first. Was the bit included with the rotary hammer, harbor freight?
The bit itself is not included, unfortunately.
How long did you have to hammer on it to break it loose?
@@CC-sf8jn The two times I've had to use it it only took about 5 seconds or so. You could potentially just buy the pointy bit and try to hammer it loose with a hammer.
@@CC-sf8jn I was also thinking you could buy both, use the pointy bit and hammer first and then return the rotary if need be.
Thanks but didn't work for me. 3 jaw hydraulic gear puller got it loose easily
Does it come with that pin to punch out the axle
It does not, no.
@@eriestreetgarage unfortunately this hammer drill was to weak for the stuck axle on my truck
Update, So I really wanted this to work. Unfortunately after 25 Minutes of using the rotary with full body weight behind me the only thing I accomplished was heating up the Bauer Rotary Hammer to the point I was concerned with failure. I live in NC and the parts have almost no rust. but this is just not moving on a ford focus 2009 front wheel. Looks like I am finally making a deposit into the junk yard for other robber barrons to steel parts from her. Has 200k but everything outside of the Wheel hubs are in good working order.....Win some lose some....
I'm glad that work for you,but I have to say I seen no evidence of sledge hammer strikes anywhere I guess I will have to try it to believe it ,I've used my top of line large snap on air hammer with not even a smidge of motion I removed knuckle with shaft in and cut it off from back and heated it from back and came out with hammer,but will try your method in the future
I never hit the spindle with the sledge always with the axle nut still threaded on. Otherwise you're likely to mash the spindle ends pretty good. Cutting everything out was my next step. Lol
It worked for me. Got the 10 Amp model. Probably end up taking it back after I'm finished
Used it on the bearing retaining clip. Tool is proving itself useful. Maybe I won't take it back
@@byron3176 I kept it around as well!
Do I need to take out the ball joints and tie rod end before pushing the cv axle in with the hammer ? I’ve been trying it with those still attached , is that what can be keeping it stuck ?
Generally yes you would have to release the ball joint/knuckle/tie rod ends in order to get it out. If it's all rusted then even more so.
I bought a cheaper hammer drill. It doesn't have a very big hammer. IT vibrates softly. Looks like yours isn't turning so it probably has a hammer setting. Sadly mine didn't work.
@richrice1058 yes there were multiple settings. If you have bits that come out of the unit make sure it's seated in there all the way. A few times I used it mine also felt soft but it was because the bit was not in all the way or seated properly.
I will try this next time I need to. But I am a skeptic, I did not see any hammer marks on that axle. I would have needed to see the other attempts to believe.
I never hammer directly on the axle end itself in fear of damaging the threads but rather beat on the axle nut. I think if you were to just buy the pointy bit and go at it with a sledge you might have more success. The other side popped out with a light push lol.
That's what I said
unbelievable, are you sure it was stuck?
Yea I was debating cutting everything out before that video took place lmao.
Rust belt life ✊🏼
All that shit on the floor lmaoooo
Love this , brilliant idea .
Did exactly what u did. Ball joint and everything
;) I've been getting better at it but people on RUclips make it look so easy. I destroy everything lol always messing up those ball joints.
I once tried air hammers, 5lb sledge hammers, and a 5 ton puller and still couldnt get it out. I ended up just taking the steering knuckle off the car with the bearing and cv joint attached.
That was my next step, cv axle would have had to come out. I prob would have cut the axle.
Life saver!!! Thank you
Tried on my car, all the tool did was dig a hole in the end of the driveshaft, didnt budge a inch!
Absolutely brutal I know there were people that said it took like 15 mins but I'm not sure what else to suggest besides a violent press session.
Usually a few shots with a baby sledgehammer release it.
I was literally thinking of using that same tool from bauer
I tried that and I ain't working for me
That was stuck a little, frozen is when a 20 ton press won't move them. You need a bigger hammer, not a dead blow.
If not, just a small air hammer works
My axle shaft is so stuck in the hub I was hammering with a punch for a solid ten minutes and nothing hopeful that this work I drive an 03 Camry
drive a chisel between the hub and the knucle for "pre-load"
Hasnt worked for me . Sledge , press . Weld inside of cv cup n cool next . After that its the wreckers 😢
Brutal man. Some people were hammering for 15 mins before theirs broke free which seems extreme to me, but yea. Been considering the wreckers as well lol.
Nice trick! Thanks for sharing
Why can't people just clean the splines and smother them with copper grease or similar would make life so much easier, I've found a small suede brush to be perfect for this
I reckon they may have been the original axles installed by the factory that just rusted over time. I am in the rust belt it's inevitable lol. The car is 23 years old now. :)
I tried this as my last hope, and it didn't work:(
That was my fear, brother. Id say give it a go a few more times before giving up. Lub it up, heat, and try again. My next step was cutting the whole thing out a real damn shame.
Wow this is insane, I was lucky with a 7 ton puller and a couple of hammer hits ….
Thank you
I came here because my air hammer didn’t work 😳 i don’t know what to do now except remove hub and axle together and use the press at work. Thanks anyway
@@wb3161 fucking brutal tbh that was my next step or junk the thing altogether.
AHAHAH u serious bro? I hope this works for me. Going to try it tomorrow.
I went out and bought one of these Harbor Freight tools and it did NOTHING! A baby woodpecker would have been more effective. If you've got a Chrysler minivan with a stuck hub, try something else.